Decorator - up front payment?

[Longtalljosie]

The exterior of our house needs painting. We have three quotes. One is far more expensive than the rest, the second is reasonable but we know nothing about him.

The third is a friend of a friend of DH's. The problem is he wants £850 up front. The only time we've ever agreed to this, we were royally ripped off and ended up in the small claims court.

But am I being too cautious about this? Do other people pay a decorator upfront as a matter of course?

No not at all, I've never paid anyone from trademen to garages without them doing the work and me being happy with it first.

Absolutely no way. Have been burnt this way myself in the past. Money upfront for materials only otherwise you have no leverage if you're not satisfied with the job.

I wouldn't pay upfront, have never been asked to and in the last few years have used quite a few different trades as my Mums house needed some work doing.
I can be good to have a personal recommendation, but its not always a guarantee of good work - I had some outdoor painting done by a friend of a friend and it was a really shoddy job.

I know two people who've paid up front and in both cases the tradesperson has walked off the job without finishing it.

NEVER pay up front

Is the £850 the total payment or would there be more to pay upon completion? If there is still more to pay then atleast you would have some financial control to ensure the job is completed to the agreed specification/on time etc etc.

£850 sounds like a lot upfront through even for materials.

No,i have never paid upfront and never will.Do not employ a 'friend'.I have done this once and it became a real mess sadly.

No,i have never paid upfront and never will.Do not employ a 'friend'.I have done this once and it became a real cropper sadly.

No matter what never pay upfront and never pay the all of the final amount until you are satisfied the work is complete. I had a freindly and helpful decorator who seemed to take pride in his work did everything above board with regard to the payment until the end when I was rushed and only after he left did I see he hadn'[t finished everything and he got a bit nasty when after a month I told him I felt very let down after all the work he had done, he yelled that it would only take 30 minutes to finish, so I said please come and do it before the end of the week, I am still waiting.

I would never pay the whole amount upfront. i would pay for the cost of the paint if cash flow was a real issue but that would be it.

Right, pretty much a consensus then. To answer an earlier question, no the full quote is £3k (we've had 3 quotes of £3k, £3k and £4k)